Samuel i



(No Model.)

S. I. FIELDS.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 391,525. g) Patented Oct. 28, 1888.

v S A i WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

UNITED STATES PATENT rricE.

SAMUEL I. FIELDS, OF CHEROKEE NATION, INDIAN TERRITORY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,525, dated October 23, 1888.

Application filed March 17, 1888. Serial No. 267,508. (No model.)

To aZ Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL I. FrELns, of Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Coupling, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved carcouphng capable of attachment to the ordinary link draw-head without altering the same, and has for its object to provide a cheap, simple, and effective coupling, whereby the cars mav be automatically coupled and uncoupled with out requiring train-men to pass between the draw-heads of opposing cars.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts, as will be here nafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, 1n wlnch slmilar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. Figure l is a plan view of opposing couplers in a coupled position. Fig. 2 is a central longitudlnal section of the same, taken on the line x 00 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectlon of opposing couplers in an uncoupled position.

A represents the draw-head, provided with a longitudinal groove, a, at one side of its center adapted to receive a lockinghar, B. The locking-bar is pivoted or hinged at its inner end so as to have a slight vertical motion, and at its outer end, which projects beyond the draw-head, is provided with an essentially arrowhead-shaped hook, I), the member constituting the hook being upon its upper side. The upward movement of the locking-bar is limited by a staple or equivalent device, I), spanning the same and secured to the drawhead. The groove to is widened from a point near its center outward and provided with an extension, a extending transversely of the draw-head beyond its center, as shown in Fig. 1.

An angle-lever, D, is pivoted to the side of the locking-bar, its horizontal member resting normally in the enlargement of the groove a parallel with the locking-bar and terminating, preferably, at the face of the draw-head, and said horizontal member is provided with an arm, (I, at right angles thereto, seated normally in the transverse extension at of the groove (1..

walls of a recess, d", in the horizontal member of the angle-lever when said member is elevated.

A loop-link, E, is pivoted or hinged upon the upper face of the draw-head and projects beyond the front face of the same, the link being normally held in a horizontal position by a spring, E, having aright-angular arm or extension, e, which bears on said link. In the edge of the draw-head, within the space surrounded by the link, a beveled recess, 6, is provided, adapted to freely receive the under side of the hook-head of the opposing locking-bar when the ears are coupled or in process of coupling.

It will be observed that the coupling herein described may without difficulty and little ex pense be attached to any linleand-pin drawhead without interfering with their operation as such. It will be also observed that by means of the groove a the locking-bar is protected against lateral strain.

In operation as the opposing draw-heads ap proach each other the link of one draw-head will pass over the head of the loekin'gbar of the opposing draw-head and engage it, as shown in Fig. 1. To uncouple, the vertical member of either lever D is depressed, whereupon one link will be disengaged by the outer end of the horizontal member and the other link simultaneously by the arm cl, as partially shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the draw-head, of a longitudinal pivoted locking-bar provided with an outer hooked extremity, an angle-lever pivoted to said locking-bar, and a spring-actuated link pivoted to the draw-head at one side of and parallel with the locking-bar, substantially as shown and described.

2. The eombinatiomwi th the draw-head pro vided with a longitudinal groove and a bev eled front recess, of a locking-bar pivoted in said groove, provided with an outer hooked extremity, an angle-lever pivoted to said locking-bar, and a spring-actuated link pivoted upon the draw-head and extending over the recess therein, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The combination,with the draw-head provided with a longitudinal groove, a transverse groove intersecting the same, and a beveled front recess, of a locking-bar pivoted in said groove, provided with an outer hook-shaped extremity, an angle-lever pivoted to the lock ing-bar, located in said longitudinal groove and. provided with a transverse arm resting in the transverse groove, a springactuated link pivoted upon the draw-head, extending over the recess therein, and the lever-arm, all combined to operate as and for the purposes speci- 2o fied.

SAMUEL I. FIELDS.

\Vitnesses:

W. D. PoLsoN, W. J. BRYSON. 

